I was sitting down with a bride over coffee a few months ago and we were talking about all the awesome creative touches she has planned for her wedding and I was impressed at how even the minute details had not been forgotten.  Her fall wedding will mean travel and overnight stay for many of her family and friends, some of whom have little kids under the age of seven.  My sweet thoughtful bride was even brainstorming how to keep the littlest of her guests happy while still allowing for their parents to enjoy the party.  We were both swapping ideas when she mentioned putting together a kids area.  The former teacher in me instantly knew I would have to demo some ideas for other brides out there who are also trying to be hospitable even to the smallest of wee folk.

One of the easiest things to provide for kids is a few coloring books and crayons.  Just make sure that whatever you do provide washes out, so I would avoid markers and pens.  Offer a few movement oriented items such as the wooden push toy or a ribbon attached to a wooden dowl.  This was actually something a previous bride made for all of her wedding guests to wave at their exit.

If you are wanting to go all out with items to entertain, consider a small tea set or baby doll.  For this DIY kids area, we also included a small table, tent, books, and beanbag chair for slightly older kids to enjoy.

If you still aren’t sure what to have for entertainment, find a friend who has kids already and ask their advice and see what you can borrow from them.